Dear Steve: You're our last hope before we give our dog...

STEVE DALE/ MY PET WORLD

June 18, 2001|STEVE DALE/ MY PET WORLD

Dear Steve: You're our last hope before we give our dog the boot. Shag is a 3-year-old Lhasa apso. We keep him in the back yard, surrounded by an Invisible Fence. The problem is, he hunts chipmunks and has destroyed the drainpipes and torn off downspouts trying to get at them. He also digs in the flowerbeds, where the chipmunks burrow. We've dragged Shag in the house, smacked him with newspaper and shouted at him, but he still goes after chipmunks. We tried to get rid of the chipmunks by placing poison peanuts in their holes. We've made a considerable investment in the fencing, not to mention the downspouts and drainpipes Shag has destroyed. You notice I didn't say we love him. -- K.A., Anderson, Ind.

Dear K.A.: While I understand your frustration and the damage to your pocketbook, your disrespect for life is disconcerting to me -- and also to Peggy Moran, online editor and columnist at Dog World magazine. In your fervor to poison those chipmunks, it's a wonder you haven't poisoned Shag in the process. Moran suggests placing screens over the downspouts to prevent the critters from getting inside in the first place. You might consider ultrasonic rodent repellers, a more humane solution. Another option: Set up a bird feeder where chipmunks can also nibble, redirecting the rodent traffic in the process.

Shag's chipmunk-hunting has developed out of boredom. He can't be going after chipmunks if he's chasing a tennis ball or a plush toy. When you're not tossing him toys outside, keep Shag indoors. Hide Kong toys stuffed with dog treats or moist dog food around the house. He'll be so busy "hunting" for them he'll forget about the chipmunks.

"If you can't find room in your heart as well as your house, then consider finding Shag a home that can," says Moran. I agree.

Dear Steve: Do hamsters need baths? -- G.K., Las Vegas

Dear G.K.: Hamsters are from arid parts of the world, where swimming pools aren't readily available. Hamsters get chilled easily. Bathing them in water is not recommended. Instead, put chinchilla dust in a little plastic dish and watch your hamster roll in it. This dust is pulverized volcanic rock, available at most pet stores.